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National Opera Week to celebrate American music in Savannah

Photo by Win Wolloff. Soprano and producer Maria Zouves and her husband, renowned operatic baritone, are the founders of VOICExperience.

It’s time for some great singing and music as Savannah celebrates National Opera Week.

VOICExperience, or VOICE, is partnering with Telfair Museums and the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus to celebrate the national event. This year’s focus is on American opera.

Renowned baritone Sherrill Milnes, the founder of VOICE, will participate as will operatic composer Carlisle Floyd. Events will include a lecture, master class and a concert of great American opera, musical theatre and song.

Operatic selections will focus on Floyd’s music and will be directed and introduced by the 86-year-old composer himself, who will be in Savannah for the first time.

VOICE was founded by Milnes and his wife, Maria Zouves, who is a soprano and producer. It is dedicated to the quality, integrity and excellence of vocal arts, providing opportunities and training for singers through education, outreach and performances. There are established VOICE programs in New York, Florida and Chicago. Milnes and Zouves decided to establish a program in Savannah to enhance the richness of Savannah area culture and share the city’s beauty with international artists and musical guests.

“After two successful programs in Savannah this year, it is appropriate and exciting that VOICE returns to celebrate this important American initiative, with the country’s leading composer,” says Zouves, who is the executive director of VOICE. “We are thrilled to be in partnership with strong artistic forces such as Telfair Museums and the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus.”

The VOICE artistic team will include Milnes as the conductor and host, Floyd and Zouves as stage directors, and pianist/conductor Dan Gettinger at the piano. Gettinger has worked not just in opera, but in musical theatre as well.

Soloists Cooper Nolan, Keith Harris and Rebecca Flaherty will join other rising stars of the VOICExperience programs. A group of area voice teachers, called the Voice Co-op, also will partner with the consortium for the master class event.

“We’ve put a weekend of events in beautiful venues that together both entertain and challenge our fervent music-loving audiences here in the Savannah area,” Zouves says. “And through these events, we continue to support our mission of developing vocal talent.”

NATIONAL OPERA WEEK SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

5:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Neises Auditorium, Jepson Center, 207 W. York St.

“Floyd on Floyd: A Composer’s Symposium,” a free event with legendary composer and NEA Opera Honors Award winner Carlisle Floyd, who will share rare insights, answer questions and give a sneak peek into the concert. He also will discuss his most famous compositions, including “Susannah.” The event will be hosted by Maria Zouves.

SATURDAY

7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Rotunda, Telfair Academy, 121 Barnard St.

“An American Songbook Concert” with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus presenting American music from opera to Broadway, and featuring the music of composer Carlisle Floyd. The evening will include scenes from Floyd’s masterworks “Susannah,” “Of Mice and Men” and “Wuthering Heights,” directed by the composer. Sherrill Milnes will host. Tickets are $35, $20 for Savannah Friends of Music and Telfair Museum members, and $10 for students with ID and are available in advance and at the door.

For special advance tickets for the concert and pre-performance reception, call 855-766-7372. Sponsors are needed and can call the same number or email voicexp@aol.com.

For more info, visit voicexperiencefoundation.com.

MONDAY

5:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Rotunda, Telfair Academy, 121 Barnard St.

“A Young Artist Master Class” with Sherrill Milnes will be presented in partnership with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and Telfair Museums with young artists from the Voice Co-op. This event is free and open to the public.